Jessica Greer has packed enough excitement into the last 20 months to last some people a lifetime.

Maybe longer.

Greer, 24, is a member of the Army National Guard, and returned in May 2010 from a 12-month tour in Iraq.

She moved to the Mountain from Portland Jan. 10, this year, and six days later watched her house get swept away by the Sandy River flood.

In mid-March, she entered the army’s Best Warrior Competition – one of three women selected to compete against a host of men – and placed third overall at the Camp Rilea event.

She now masquerades as a normal person, working at the High Mountain Cafe
in Government Camp.

Despite the harrowing times, Greer chalks it all up to providence.
“We were fortunate,” she said of her Iraq duty. “Our mission was not too
harsh. We provided security for a supply convoy driven by Jordanians. It was
stressful, but we saw minimal action.”

But Iraq left an indelible mark.

“The weather sucks,” she said. “It’s stinky. It was a real culture shock.”

Greer also found the silver lining in the flood event.

“We just got our stuff moved in (with her fiance Michael Castenada). The
house was destroyed. We lost everything.”

Then the clouds parted.

“But Mike and Debra (Sinz, Mountain Retreats), they were great. They got us
another house in Timberline Rim. Furnished.

“And we’re not running away,” she added, a steely grin spreading across her
face.

She was selected in November to represent Alpha Company in the warrior
competition.

“The main reason they chose me was probably because I had been to college,
and there was a thick manual we had to read and understand, because we
would be drilled by a board of first sergeants and a battalion commander.
And, I’m smart.”

It was probably a surprise to no one, she won that portion of the competition.
After the grueling three-day event, March 12-14 at the army installation in
Warrenton, Greer had placed third in the Oregon Soldier of the Year
competition.

The testing was physical, including the demanding obstacle course at Camp
Rilea, and 12-15 mile marches (with full packs) between other events. Among
the other events were reflexive firing, three and one-half mile runs, night land
navigation, a grenade obstacle course, urban operations, non-weapon combat
and a rescue litter pull.

The reflexive fire came after competitors were “smoked.”

“They wore us out first before we fired,” Greer said, and this time the smile
exuded confidence. “But I did real well. I have good eyes. And I had been a
50-caliber gunner in Iraq.”

And she didn’t back down from the boys in the hand-to-hand combat session.
“I got a takedown and a submission in my first competition. Two minutes later
I won my second match. They were both submissions with arm bars. I lost my
third match on points, giving up eight pounds to my opponent.”

Did we mention Greer is a physically fit 150 pounds?

“Plus, I grew up with three brothers, wrestling and throwing each other
around. So it’s second nature to me.”

Now she settles back into her normal life on the Mountain.

And when Spc. Jessica Greer, of Alpha Company, 141st Brigade Support
Battalion, Oregon Army National Guard says she’s “not running away.”

Believe it.